PMC ESPO, LLC, has started construction of a standby leg of one of the longest underwater crossings of Eastern Siberia-Pacific Ocean PS (pipeline system)

PMC ESPO (a subsidiary of Transneft) has started construction and assembly works at the standby leg of the underwater crossing of oil trunk pipeline of Eastern Siberia-Pacific Ocean Pipeline System (ESPO PS) across the river Amur in Khabarovsk Territory. The standby leg is constructed for the purpose of increasing reliability of ESPO pipeline system.

The length of the underwater crossing is equal to 34.5 kilometres - it is width of bottomland of the river Amur at the place of crossing, which is covered by water during flood. The length of siphon (pipeline section located under water) laid through the main river bed is equal to 2,785 metres. Besides the main works, PMC ESPO will conduct works on laying another 8 siphons with the length of 110 to 622 metres in the bottomland of the river. It makes the underwater crossing across the river Amur one of the longest in the whole pipeline system.

Now welding of the siphon on the crossing across the stream Krivaya has been performed; welding of lengths of the siphon across the stream Chepchiki is being performed. In February hydraulic tests of siphons and in-line inspection using the “dry broach” method will be performed at these water courses.

Siphons at all small water courses will be laid before spring thaw, because places of the standby leg crossings are difficult of access for vehicles in summer.

Underwater trench at the place of the main siphon will be developed using dredges. Dredging works will start in summer 2018. Up to the end of the year the siphon across the main bed of the river Amur will be laid in design position.

Up to 2025 another seven underwater crossings at the section from Skovorodino PS (oil pump station) No. 21 to oil port Kozmino (ESPO-2) will be equipped with standby legs.